Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas

Right now, it’s snowing outside.  It’s howling and gusting like crazy and it’s getting late.  It’s Christmas Day and I’m home for Christmas this year.  I’ll be home for a month before heading back to college.  I had to wake up early this morning in order to open gifts with my family before heading to church.  I received several gifts from my siblings, parents, and grandparents including a brand new pair of Rossignol skis.  I won’t be able to use them very much here but can’t wait to hit the slopes back at college. 

As much as I like receiving gifts from people, there’s nothing like giving gifts.  The old saying says, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive” and that’s the truth.  I love watching someone open a gift that I’ve carefully selected, bought, and wrapped for them.  I’ve thought about what to get them for weeks or even months and I’m certain they’ll like the item I’ve purchased.  Wrapping it is fun and then watching the person tear off the brightly colored paper and exclaim over the gift inside brings great joy.

This year, I gave my dad The Litigators in his stocking.  The Litigators is the latest novel from John Grisham and it just came out a few months ago.  My dad loves John Grisham novels as do I.  My dad was the one who introduced me to John Grisham.  My dad had told me about one of the novels once, I read it, and was instantly hooked.  Now, I usually give him one a year for Christmas or his birthday or Father’s Day.  All I ask is that he lets me read it as well.

Christmas is almost over for the year.  I hope your day was spent with the people you love most.  Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Hanging On

Last weekend, I went downhill skiing for the first time this season.  The last time I went skiing was in March of last year and I was feeling it after just one trip down the hill.  My legs were sore for three days after that but it was great.  I don’t currently have a pair of skis so I rented a pair for the day.  Along with the rental, I got a set of ski poles.  I’m used to being towed to the top of a hill on a rope behind a snowmachine and then skiing down.   Ski poles would only get in the way so I’ve never used them.  I expected that they’d get in my way and I’d be annoyed by them the whole way down the hill but, I found the opposite to be true.  They really help while doing turns and also, I think it’s a mental thing.  People like having something to hang onto even if it won’t help you in an emergency.

People, in general, also like having someone to hang onto.  Someone who’s there with them through thick and thin that they can trust will be there in the bad times and in the good.  Maybe it’s a family member, a friend, or a significant other.  Whoever it is, it’s someone you trust.  I’m blessed to have several of those people in my life and I hope you do to.  People like that are a blessing.  Don’t take them for granted.